~~~~~~
Æthelflæd immediately ran straight to her chambers and checked on her daughter! Twyla, Eadith, and Osferth sat outside an ale house and waited for Sihtric and young Uhtred! Once they reached the ale house and Twyla caught sight of her father, she instantly jumped off her seat and hugged him tight! He immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest! Then he kissed her temple and widely smiled at her! After a while, Sihtric and young Uhtred also sat down and Eadith waited for something to happen...
~~~~~~

Eadith:"Where are Uhtred, Finan, Stiorra and Æthelstan?...(*Sihtric shrugged his shoulders*)...we haven't heard from them since we arrived!"
young Uhtred:(*he sighed*)"I think father is still talking to Edward and where Finan and the rest are is a mystery to me too!...(*Eadith looked at him*)...wait, no, I'm changing my statement..."
Twyla:"Why? What do you see that we don't see?...(*she tilted her head*)...have you seen Finan, Stiorra and Æthelstan?"
young Uhtred:(*he pointed at Uhtred*)"Yes, something like that!...(*everyone turned their heads*)...father, you look terrible! What have they done to you?"
Uhtred:"It doesn't matter now! Why are you sitting here as if nothing had happened?!...(*Eadith raised an eyebrow*)...shouldn't you be looking after Ælfwynn?!"

~~~~~~
Right before any of them could answer, a familiar voice called Uhtred's name! He turned his head to see Finan and Stiorra walking towards the small group! Uhtred shot Finan a confused look and when the two of them reached the others, Finan explained everything...
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Finan:"I have given Æthelstan to Father Pyrlig!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...don't worry, Uhtred, Lady Ælswith will take the little man to his father later!"
Stiorra:(*she nodded*)"And why do you look like a swollen yeast dough?...(*Finan stifled his laughter*)...what have they done to you?"
Sihtric:"They probably tried to beat the necessary information out of him!...(*Stiorra looked at Sihtric*)...and when that didn't work, they probably threw him in a cell and Edward was kind enough to release Uhtred at some point, am I right?"
Uhtred:(*he grinned*)"Like you were there, brother!...(*they laughed*)...what Sihtric says is true! They beat me until they realised that I was keeping quiet! The rest happened just as Sihtric said..."
Twyla:"That is inhumane!...(*Stiorra nodded*)...on what basis did Edward release you, Lord?"

~~~~~~
Uhtred sighed and wanted to answer the moment the reason came walking towards them! Stiorra and Finan turned their heads when Æthelflæd cleared her throat to speak up! When she did, everyone else as well turned their heads and Uhtred only slightly pointed at Æthelflæd! Twyla quickly understood, what he meant by that and she immediately shot him a friendly smile! Æthelflæd told Uhtred, that Edward wanted to see him...again!
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Æthelflæd:"Uhtred, Edward wants to see you!...(*Uhtred rolled his eyes*)...this time without you ending up looking like a swollen yeast dough!"
Uhtred:(*he lowered his head*)"Well, I'm reassured!...(*Eadith slightly laughed*)...anything else you have to share with us?"
Æthelflæd:"Now that I think about it, yes, there is something else!...(*Sihtric lifted his head*)...Edward wants to see you too, Twyla!"
Twyla:(*she raised an eyebrow*)"Did he also say why he wanted to see me, Æthelflæd?...(*Æthelflæd shook her head*)...weird...but thanks for telling me!"
Sihtric:"Angel, if you don't want to talk to him alone, that's fine!...(*Twyla looked at Sihtric*)...would you like one of us to come with you?"
Twyla:(*she shook her head*)"I'll just go along with Uhtred, father!...(*she smiled at him*)...the conversation won't be too bad!"

~~~~~~
Sihtric sighed and watched as his daughter stood up and walked away together with Uhtred! Meanwhile: Edward waited for Uhtred and Twyla and when they entered the hall, he cleared his throat and looked at them! Twyla tilted her head and watched as Edward stoop up...he walked towards them and slightly smiled at Twyla! She smiled back and waited for him to speak up...
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Edward:"Twyla, how good it is to see you!...(*Twyla nodded at him*)...Uhtred, we have already seen each other several times today and I apologise again on behalf of my guard for your condition!"
Uhtred:(*he lowered his head*)"You wanted to see us?...(*Edward nodded*)...may we possibly know why you wanted to see us?"
Edward:"Well, I have something to offer you, Uhtred, but Twyla would have to leave the room for a moment!...(*Twyla lifted her head*)...would you be so kind, dear?"
Twyla:(*she nodded*)"But of course! Call me if you need me!...(*Edward and Uhtred nodded*)...I will wait in the room next door!"
Uhtred:"I will find you, Twyla!...(*he watched her disappear*)...what do you want from me, Edward?"
Edward:(*he took a deep breath*)"Mercia needs a new ruler, right?...(*Uhtred nodded*)...and since Ælfwynn can never be ruler over Mercia, I propose that a person be ruler whom both Æthelflæd and I trust!"
Uhtred:"And who is this person supposed to be, Lord King?...(*Edward tilted his head*)...someone I know?"
Edward:(*he nodded*)"I have decided that you will be the new ruler of Mercia, Uhtred!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...you do not have to decide directly! However, I expect your answer before sunset tomorrow!"

~~~~~~
Uhtred couldn't believe, that Edward offered him Mercia's throne, so he just stood there...speechless! Edward stood up, walked towards Uhtred and placed both his hands on Uhtred's shoulders! They looked at each other and Edward even slightly smiled...Uhtred sighed, but nodded anyway! Meanwhile: Twyla was sitting in the room next door and waited, until Edward was ready to talk to her, like he wanted to! And after what felt like ages, Uhtred came out of the hall and looked at Twyla! She immediately stood up and walked towards the door, Uhtred was holding open for her! They quickly smiled at each other before she disappeared into the hall...
~~~~~~

Twyla:"Lord King, it is an honour to speak with you!...(*Edward smiled at her*)...may I ask why you wanted to see me?"
Edward:(*he nodded*)"Of course you can ask that, Twyla!...(*Twyla smiled back*)...the reason is simple: I would like to thank you for healing my niece!"
Twyla:"With all due respect, Lord King, it was not all my doing!...(*Edward tilted his head*)...Eadith and Osferth were a great help to me! Without them I would have lost my mind..."
Edward:(*he sighed*)"Well then, I will also send my thanks to these two!...(*Twyla still smiled*)...Sihtric is lucky to have a daughter like you, Twyla! I hope he hasn't thought about marrying you off yet! Wouldn't that be a shame?"
Twyla:"Well, I would almost say that I am lucky that he is my father and not the other way around!...(*Edward slightly laughed*)...he did so much good in his life! He helped so many people and he always had to do without what he wanted...he never got what he wanted and sincerely deserved! Nothing but my mother, me and my siblings..."

~~~~~~
Edward needed a moment to realise, to what a sincere and clever person he was talking to! Twyla sighed and lowered her head...knowing, that her father had worries he would never say out loud, just to be no burden to anyone! Often he had this sad expression in his eyes, which only she seemed to saw...and about which only she seemed to care! Edward lifted her head with his index finger and gently caressed her right cheek with his right thumb! Tears rose in Twyla's eyes and she couldn't help but let them roll down her cheeks! Edward wiped them away and smiled at her, waiting for her to smile back! And she did...it took her a while, but she did and that made him happy! Hearing her talking about her father with so much love and respect, he started missing his father! His father King Alfred...the man who so many people loved, but so many people despised at the same time! The man and King he could never be...
~~~~~~

Edward:"Hearing with how much love and respect you speak about your father makes me miss mine!...(*he sighed*)...Sihtric is a great warrior and man! Having him as a friend, father or just a listener must feel like a blessing..."
Twyla:(*she nodded*)"Yes, it really feels like a blessing!...(*she slightly smiled*)...being reassured by him and watching him take away my siblings' worries makes me happy and proud! I am really very proud to have him as a father!"
Edward:"And I think you really can be! Sihtric is a gift from the gods as you would say, right?...(*Twyla nodded*)...how often do you tell him that you love him and are proud to be his daughter?"
Twyla:(*she thought briefly*)"Come to think of it, not often enough!...(*she sighed*)...having a warrior for a father causes worry lines I don't want..."
Edward:"You also have a sense of humour! It gets better and better!...(*they laughed*)...but now I've kept you long enough! Go to your father and tell him everything you just told me!"

~~~~~~
Twyla nodded and Edward watched as she disappeared! Meanwhile: Uhtred and the others still sat at the same spot, they sat earlier, so Twyla had no difficulties finding them! But young Uhtred, Stiorra, Osferth and Eadith were gone...probably buying another round of ale!When Sihtric caught sight of his daughter, he immediately stood up, walked towards her and pulled her into a tight hug! Twyla wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled against his chest! He kissed the top of her head and caressed it gently afterwards! Uhtred and Finan turned their heads and watched them with huge smiles on their faces! Osferth, Stiorra, young Uhtred and Eadith came back and their faces immediately lit up with joy! They placed the mugs of ale on the table and waited for Sihtric and Twyla to sit down! When they broke away from each other, they eventually sat down and Twyla immediately began explaining, why Edward wanted to talk to her...
~~~~~~